not fair is they need 17-20 days to get it to you, but you only get 7 to return it.

And that assumes the buyer isn't trying to outright scam you... I recently sold a collection of card-like items, and one guy bought 4 of them. I mailed them all together between two pieces of cardboard, and he emailed me a few days later to ask if I had perhaps had multiples and sent him the wrong one, because one of the cards had a major crease across the front that had not been in the picture, although the other three were fine.

Now, I am 100% certain those cards were in pristine condition when I put them in the package. It might have gotten damaged in shipping, sure--except how does a single card get folded while taped tightly between two pieces of cardboard, yet the other three flush up against it do not? I asked him to send me a picture of the damaged card so I could try to figure out what went wrong, and I'd happily refund his money. All of a sudden he decides nevermind, he wants to keep the "damaged" card after all and he considers the matter closed. Yeah, sure dude.

I have always read it as the buyer needs to post the item within 7 days, not that the item must be received within 7 days. YMMV.
Yup, unfortunately there are scamming buyers AND sellers out there. My bro refuses to sell anything on eBay because his first purchaser was a complete scammer. Moaned and whined and left negative feedback. Eventually returned the item - except that the item returned was not the item sent. But because the buyer obtained proof of postage when returning, PayPal refunded the purchase price. So although the buyer paid shipping charges he got quite an expensive item for that cost alone, and my bro was left with a broken down piece of crap and out of pocket.

I don't know if the rules have been changed since, but the bottom line is if you want to practice dishonesty there's always a way to do it.

I just used the above auction to show you the type of earbuds I was talking about. Here's one of the links to the actual auction I won:


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...id=p2759.l1259

They have this listed in their return policy:

I sent them off a note asking them to send the correct item, we will see what happens. I'm not afraid to leave negative feedback... and as stated before, there's not much retaliation they can do, since they've already left me positive feedback.

I would out right tell them. You are not happy. What you received is not the item you bid on. This was a gift and you cannot give what you received. I'd send them a picture of what they sent you... and the link to the item you bid on. I 'd tell them you want them to send you the correct item and ask them what they want you to do with the incorrect shipment they sent you... and I'd let them know you are not going to pay to return it as it was their error.

I had to do exactly that when I bid on a copy of Toy Story for my son... what I recieved was an illegal copy. I told the seller under no uncertian terms would I pay to send it back to them.

I hope those kids are washing cars for their earbud money.

LOL Cloud, I'm such a cheapass... I make them do three chores around the house for them (for any prize from the prize box). Two if I'm feeling super generous and it's a big chore. So, in exchange for $1 earbuds, I get the dishes washed, a couple loads of laundry maybe, and the living room picked up. I think I'm getting the better end of the deal there, but I won't ever let them know it. :P

I must have weird ears...I can never keep those things in. Even the ones with ear hookys don't work for me. I need the big ole 1970s type earphones!

I just bought a couple shirts for my oldest son at WalMart and each one had headphones attached to them. $10 for a shirt and headphones. Can't beat that since one, or the other, or both will end up trashed in a month or so anyway LOL!

Ha! I just HAD to pick up a 3 dollar shirt at Wally World that reads "This is how I roll" and then has dice and the monopoly logo...the background are gray shadow images of games pieces and such.

:)

Shaw, I have the same problem with ear buds.

Wha Wha WTH? err who...

I don't think I'd ever order something from Singapore or China off ebay. But that's just me. The shipping has always seemed fishy, for one thing.

Contact the seller first; if you're not satisfied, then leave the negative fb.

Just post neutral and leave a comment saying the item is not as described. You should do this because it's how they know their buyers aren't idiots. If you wanted to be concilliatory, you can say you're still confident the item will 'do' what it's meant to do, but it doesn't look how it's supposed to.

I bought 500 glass fish on ebay from China to give as gifts at our wedding instead of the traditional sugar coated almonds. They were lovely, and cost about 50 cents per item as opposed to anything similar in Australia which cost around $10 per item.

;)